RAWALPINDI: In the wake of rising forest fire incidents, the Murree district administration has formed a seven-member committee to determine the factors behind the alarming spike.

According to official statistics, as many as 30 forest fire incidents were reported in Murree and three in Kotli Sattian from January 1 to 22, 2025.

The committee comprises Murree and Kotli Sattian assistant commissioner, Murree divisional forest officer, Rawalpindi North divisional forest officer and district emergency officer. It will be headed by the additional Murree deputy commissioner (Revenue).

The committee will identify the contributing factors to the fire incidents, analyse the causes and propose effective methods and strategies to prevent fire incidents in the district.

According to Rescue 1122, approximately 291 fire cases were reported in the Murree district in 2024 including 251 in Murree and 40 in Kotli Sattian. In 2023, 81 cases were reported. Of these, 66 were reported in Murree and 15 in Kotli Sattian.

Similarly in in 2022, some 131 cases were reported including 100 in Murree and 31 in Kotli Sattian.

Talking to Dawn, Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shirazi said that the district administration has started work on preventing forest fires.

He said the committee would prepare a report and submit it to the Punjab government as relevant departments required equipment like drone cameras and fire fighting gear to tackle the challenge.

He said that an awareness campaign among visitors and residents has also been launched. The official said that that locals have been urged to not set fire to dry grass and to use alternate methods to grow fresh grass.

The deputy commissioner said that dry weather was contributing to fire cases and people have been warned against lighting cigarettes while in the woods.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2025